Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced it has exercised a two-year lease extension option on its Advanced Technology Workshop (ATW) manufacturing facility located in Akron, Ohio. This extension will keep more than 50 highly-skilled jobs in Akron.

“We’d like to thank our city, county and state leaders for their continued support of Bridgestone and our investments in Northeast Ohio,” said Steve Charles, vice president of Product Development for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

Founded in the early 1980s and located off Main Street in the original Firestone Tire and Rubber Company's Plant One building, ATW is one of the company’s most historic and unique tire production facilities in North America. In addition to the ATW, Bridgestone employs approximately 900 personnel at its Akron campus, which includes the Americas Technical Center (ATC), where it conducts much of its research, design and development.

“I am pleased the Bridgestone will continue to manufacture tires and retain jobs in our community,” Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said of the extension. “We look forward to continuing our long and successful partnership.”

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

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